Let's Talk Expectations

Is It Time to Take Off Our 'Rose Colored Glasses' 

“If you align expectations with reality, you will never be disappointed.”
 – Terrell Owens

Is It Time to Take Off the “Rose Colored Glasses?”
We love to spin beautiful stories in our head about how life should be. How our workplace will be fulfilling and creative, our bosses and colleagues supportive, our projects always successful, our personal relationships always loving without rocky spots. Truth be told, that hasn’t been my experience in life. For these expectations, emotions about what may happen in the future can be realistic or unrealistic. And when things don’t always go the way we imagine, we suddenly find ourselves disappointed and hurt. (I sure have a few scars to show and would be glad to share those stories over a cup of tea or a glass of vino.)

Now, we can take a positive outlook and believe in the best outcomes. That is optimism, which is good for corporate America and for our personal lives.  However, to include only one scenario that fulfills our own needs and expectations without acknowledging clues from others, based on reality, may be setting ourselves up for pain.  

So, this week I’m going to try to keep my expectations in check. I will take off my “rose colored glasses,” and appreciate and be aware of the value of the here and now – which is mindfulness -- open to the reality and opportunity of today without any expectation.